The eight-pointed cross

The eight-pointed cross, later known as the Maltese cross was worn on the black monastic habit of the Hospitaller Brothers as a symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion. The first cross was made of white material symbolizing purity, and had long arms with slightly split ends as was common in depictions of crucifixes in the 12th and 13th centuries.

In Malta the cross took on a different form as seen today. To the Knights the four arms of the cross signified the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude whilst the 8 points represented the Beatitudes, the qualities given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount and recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. The eight Beatitudes are as follows:
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted, Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied, Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy, Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God, Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God, Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.